Kids with high self esteem feel loved, accepted, confident and proud of what they accomplish and believe in themselves. By the same logic, kids who suffer from low self esteem feel the opposite.
Believe it or not, self esteem begins at an early age. Whenever a baby achieves a milestone, that moment is key for building confidence and it all depends on the parents and surrounding circumstances. If let’s say the child receives praise for trying to walk or even later on ride a bike, then even if he fails at first he will continue to try because of the support he feels.
No parent wishes their kids to have low self esteem, but what if they do? Is there a way to change things or prevent them to begin with?
Help and guide your child but leave him space to make mistakes and learn, for him to know that trial and error is a part of the process and that self esteem doesn’t rely on always winning. Beware praising too much for trivial things, it will set the bar very low and your child will expect to work less towards achieving his goals. Forget the “do as I say not as I do” and reverse it. Children follow our lead therefore it is essential to work and get tasks done in a very positive manner that reinforces their importance. Correct but don’t criticize. When you use harsh words to generalize over a small incident, your child will automatically label himself as the negative word you called him and it will stick. Instead, tell him what went wrong and how he can fix it. Focus on your child’s skills and encourage him to develop them, this will validate his feeling of being special and will help work towards goals in the future. Enroll your kids in extracurricular activities that are based on helping other children or the less fortunate. Giving back gives a sense of worth and puts things into perspective.
Maria Najem
Photo: rd.com
